TV deal shapes US soccer future

[AreliusIV]

http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137072

[oussan]

So did I read that correctly, that four years ago MLS paid ESPN $40 million to broadcast "Soccer Saturday," and now Disney has paid $100 million for rights up through WC 2014? Quick math suggests that where MLS was paying $10 million a year just to be broadcast, now Disney is paying $12.5 million a year for the rights to broadcast. Sweeeeet.

Interesting article. I think this is incredibly significant. Now the impetus for building a market for the league is shared between MLS, its owners, and Disney and Univision. I hope that we see increased promotion of the league on ABC and ESPN. I hope that production values for match broadcasts get "racheted up."

But then I wonder how much Disney really cares about $12.5 million dollars. I could see them looking at it as solely an investment in the World Cup, and then pretty much ignoring MLS as filler in between WCs.

But if we ever actually got to the point where Sports Center is talking MLS, I think I might actually tune in. And I'd love to watch to Jim Rome eat crow till he's vomitting all over his set. 🙂